Alex Salmond claims anti-independence campaigners will be shocked by the impact of the Chancellor's 'destructive wrecking tactics' in the run up to the referendum

11:51, 19 February 2014

ByDailyrecord.co.uk

THE SNP leader again hit out at George Osborne after the Tory Chancellor last week vetoed a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK, should there be a Yes vote in September.

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has claimed anti-independence campaigners will be shocked by the impact of the Chancellor's "destructive wrecking tactics" in the run up to the referendum.

The SNP leader again hit out at George Osborne after the Tory Chancellor last week vetoed a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK, should there be a Yes vote in September.

He also claimed the UK Government's "scare" tactics ahead of the crucial vote could backfire on them.

"I think the No campaign is in for a severe shock as they see the political effect of the reaction of Scotland who don't like being bullied, least of all by a Tory Chancellor," Mr Salmond told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme.

Mr Osborne and his Labour and Liberal Democrat counterparts Ed Balls and Danny Alexander joined forces last week when they all ruled out a formal currency union between Scotland and the remainder of the UK.

In a visit to Edinburgh, Mr Osborne declared :"If Scotland walks away from the UK, it walks away from the UK pound."

He has reiterated that this week, claiming the rejection of a deal on the pound means "Alex Salmond is a man without a plan".

But Mr Salmond insisted there was "no doubt whatsoever" that this approach had boosted support for independence "because Scots don't like being dictated to in the way that George Osborne did last week".

He added: "That's the political effect and I also think there's a longer term effect because what we're seeing is a UK Chancellor who is adopting destructive wrecking tactics.

"Instead of sitting down and negotiating, as for example we did in technical discussions with the independent Bank of England very productively, he wants to dictate the terms of debate."

The Scottish Government has warned ruling out a currency union could result in additional costs of £500 million a year for businesses south of the border, with Holyrood ministers arguing there will be a change of stance from UK politicians if voters back independence in the referendum.

Mr Salmond said: "I have said that this is bluff and bluster and explained the reasons why, both in terms of transaction costs but also the acceptance of national debt."

He added: "It's certainly designed to scare and frighten people, there's no doubt about that. But anybody who knows anything about the history and temper of the Scottish people will know that an appeal to reason and intelligence, which is what the Yes campaign is doing, saying it's in everyone's interests, Scotland and the rest of the UK, to share the pound, is more likely to succeed."

He continued to argue a currency union was "the best option for Scotland and the rest of the UK".

The First Minister added: "We can't be stopped from using the pound. It's an internationally tradable currency. Luckily it's not within George Osborne's gift. He doesn't own the pound. It's a joint currency and Scotland has every much right to it as does George Osborne."